Improvement in spring-shanks for boots and shoes



'UNITED STATESv NPATENT Orrick.

JOHN MCGINLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-SHANKS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES To all whom it may-concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCGINLEY, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, called the Metallic Spring-Shank for the soles of boots and shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a plain metallic springshank with two holes at the front end; Fig'. 2, another'having additionally a slot at the opposite extremity; Fig. 3, a double spring shank; Fig. 4, the eXtra half-shank forming part of the double shank; and Fig. 5, the dou ble shank as applied to the sole of the boot or shoe, part of which is shown.

The object of the metallic spring-shank is to give ease and elasticity to a boot or shoe and keep it in close fitting and contact with the foot, being composed for this purpose of well-tempered steel, as represented.

The plain metallic spring-shank, Fig. l, is perforated with two holes a a at the front end, in order to fasten it to the -inner sole on the ball of the foot. The other end of said shank is introduced into the heel of the boot or shoe with a sufficient curve to allow to it a sliding motion without the usual wear liable to all other shanks now in use. It being fastened in the ball of the foot, it cannot consequently Wear the sole in the quarter.

Fig. 2 represents another plain metallic spring-shank, with two holes b h at the front end for fastening it to the inner sole, as described in Fig. l. At the other end of said shank, which is also introducedinto the heel in the same manner as in Fig. l, is a slot c,

two holes e e and at the opposite end with a slot f in the same manner and for the purpose as described in Figs. l and 2, and is also introduced into the heel in the same manner as there specified. In addition to the aforesaid perforations, it has a hole g in the oenter, in order to introduce a rivet to fasten on an extra half-shank for the purpose of producing additional strength to heavy boots or shoes. This extra half-shank is 'shown in Fig. et, being' furnished with a corresponding center hole g and slot f.

There are but two otherpatent steel Shanks of a similar construction known to the inventor of the metallic spring-shank herein described, one of which is the double elliptic sliding and spring shank invented by and patented to Isaiah Gale, of the city of Natchez, Mississippi, and the other that of Dicks patent, now owned by Brooks, of New York, which consists of a single spring and attached only at the heel and reaching forward, and which isnierely confined by the outer and inner sole of the boot or shoe, and has no sliding motion to agree with the motion of the boot at each footstep. 'lhe object-ion to Gales Shanks are that he has the sliding motion only at the center of the foot, whereas in order to give ease to the foot it should come more under the heel of the boot or shoe. Another objection is that the nibs of Gales patent shank are liable to wear out and become Hattened, thereby losing its motion and spring, and, furthermore, that it is confined to a right and left boot or shoe, whereas in my improvement I obviate these evils, viz: First, I have no nibs in the center of my shank to wear, and still haveall the sliding motion of Gales from the heel and all that can be obtained by a shank of this construction; secondly, the slot in my improvement also prevents the boot from bending to the foot when in the act of pulling off the boot; thirdly, my shank being straight,it will iit either right, left,or straight boots or shoes, and therefore more applicable to ladies7 boots or shoes, if desirable, who seldom, if ever, wear what are denominated rights and lefts.

i 1 I do not claim the invention of a metallic injury, in the manner and for the purpose de shank for boots or shoes; but v scribed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire JOHQ MCGINLEY to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The position of the slot f and sliding part Witnesses: v of the spring-shank within the loootJ or shoe C. BRAZER, .I heel foi` the purpose of being protected from G. CREGAS. 1 

